Law Enforcement work

nissen99 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-05-2008, 02:40 PM

I haven't seen a question like this on this forum before but my son has displayed interest in police work upon graduation from high school. A friend of mine said she didn't think that was possible since he was diabetic. (What if he had a reaction while driving, etc.) What are anyone's thoughts on this? Thanks.

JediSkipdogg · #2 (**permalink**) 03-05-2008, 03:01 PM

Some states plane out don't allow diabetics to be police officers. The reasons are plane and simple. What if he has a reaction while driving a police cruiser? What if he is in the middle of a domestic and starts to feel low? Remember the North Hollywood Shootout of 1997? What if that happens again, the stress levels alone can rise or lower the BG and there's no time to take a break to test and correct. It only lasted for 44 minutes, but those were the worst 44 minutes of any LAPD officer.

Now, with that said, I'm not saying it's bad. I'm saying one has to have great control. I'm currently a dispatcher and am looking at taking my departments test in September. My only problem is where to hide my pump so it doesn't get damaged in an incident (as the department won't pay for more than $500.)

One has to make sure they have good control and can deal with the stress of the job. The stresses alone can play havoc on one's BG level.

If he chooses the path, I do wish him well and hope he can be an honorable server of the law.

Jak · #3 (**permalink**) 03-05-2008, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nissen99

I haven't seen a question like this on this forum before but my son has displayed interest in police work upon graduation from high school. A friend of mine said she didn't think that was possible since he was diabetic. (What if he had a reaction while driving, etc.) What are anyone's thoughts on this? Thanks.

Check out the Children with Diabetes website. Click on Adults with Diabetes (under People) and then number 24 (Maureen) when the Contributors page comes up.

Jak

DCaplinger · #4 (**permalink**) 03-05-2008, 05:36 PM

I am a cop, and I'm an insulin dependant diabetic. I know several cops that are diabetic. It may be State by State, however, I would check with an attorney locally to be sure. I say attorney, because there are laws against discriminating against people with medical conditions.

Regards,

JediSkipdogg · #5 (**permalink**) 03-05-2008, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCaplinger

I am a cop, and I'm an insulin dependant diabetic. I know several cops that are diabetic. It may be State by State, however, I would check with an attorney locally to be sure. I say attorney, because there are laws against discriminating against people with medical conditions.

Regards,

The laws are to an extent. While they can't legally outright ban you they can make you prove that you are in great enough control to do the job. This may be you showing them all your records for the past year and HIPPA won't apply here because you have to prove that you can do the job of to serve and protect those around you. And if they openly allowed any diabetic to be a cop, we'd have some deadly cops out there (more so than we do now.)

shiftzor · #6 (**permalink**) 03-06-2008, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

The laws are to an extent. While they can't legally outright ban you they can make you prove that you are in great enough control to do the job. This may be you showing them all your records for the past year and HIPPA won't apply here because you have to prove that you can do the job of to serve and protect those around you. And if they openly allowed any diabetic to be a cop, we'd have some deadly cops out there (more so than we do now.)

Do you mean diabetics should not be cops? I totally disagree with that. Minus a fighter pilot, I don't think there are many jobs that should "ban" diabetics. Yes control is important, but I think control is important even if you’re just a checkout guy/girl. Any job has stress, some more so than others I agree, but stress is not debilitating even to a diabetic.

If your son is interested in doing it, assuming there are no rules to stop him, go for it.

Diabetes shouldn't stop you're son from getting were he wants to go.

JediSkipdogg · #7 (**permalink**) 03-06-2008, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shiftzor

Do you mean diabetics should not be cops?

No, I don't mean that. But I do personally believe that they should prove that they are in control enough to be a cop (meaning don't pull any ADA or HIPPA junk and say you don't have to mention it.) You are not only responsible for your life, but also the lives of others doing your job. Not to mention, if something diabetic related does happen on the job you are then most likely placed on admistrative leave therefore letting the public down by not doing the job you were sworn to do.

Here's one example....

Horton job will wait for diabetic officer | Topeka Capital-Journal, The | Find Articles at BNET.com

davef · #8 (**permalink**) 03-06-2008, 03:32 AM

Personally I believe that being a diabetic is no reason for a person not to be a police officer. There is a top surgeon in Ireland who openly speaks of being an insulin dependant diabetic, he literaly has people's lives in his hands as does the Air Canada pilot mention in the thread Trailblazer in the Sky

For me, being a police officer is like being a nurse, it takes a special type of person and is practically a vocation. Of course there are bad cops, there are bad people in all professions but that's a reflection on human nature and not the profession.

Just my two cent, may not be even worth that price!

timmyp · #9 (**permalink**) 03-07-2008, 03:17 AM

I am a Type 1 and was a police reservist in Johannesburg, South Africa which is pretty intense as far as law enforcement goes. A lot of adrenaline while on duty!

I coped really well but only did 6 months of voluntary part-time service due to the fact that I got married.